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Wilson Commends India on the Annual Republic Day Celebration

Feb 4, 2002

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) commends India on its annual celebration of Republic Day on January 26th. India formally initiated its parliamentary democracy on January 26th, 1950. This is the second most important day in India’s political history, after India’s Independence Day, which is celebrated on August 15th, 1947.
Congressman Wilson noted that “after India achieved independence, the people of India looked to other democracies upon which to model their government. The framers of India’s Constitution were greatly influenced by the American Founding Fathers John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. The values of freedom in the American Constitution were especially appealing to the people of India. This is why India modeled its Constitution after ours, and every American should be proud our great democracy has served as such a wonderful model for other countries around the world.”
“India is now the world’s largest democracy. India has an independent judiciary, a free press, and basic freedoms we cherish here in America, such as the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association, are widely practiced in India. India’s Republic Day signifies India’s enduring commitment to democracy and freedom, which has lasted for more than half-a-century. I salute the people of India and their democracy on this important day in India’s history.”
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